Massive explosion rocks Calabar Petrol Station, injures residents, destroys property

A petrol and gas station explosion on Edibe Edibe Street in Calabar South, Cross River State, on Saturday left several residents injured and caused extensive damage to property, triggering panic in the densely populated neighbourhood.

The incident, which occurred around 10 a.m., razed the facility identified as Fonex Gas Station, destroying fuel storage tanks, vehicles and nearby structures.

The impact of the explosion extended beyond the station, affecting adjoining shops and buildings as residents and business owners fled the area for safety.

Eyewitnesses said several victims sustained varying degrees of injuries in the explosion. While some were treated at nearby patent medicine stores, others were rushed to hospitals for further medical attention.

The chaotic aftermath also created an opportunity for hoodlums, who reportedly looted goods from affected shops and parts of the damaged facility.

Residents were initially left to battle the fire on their own, using sand, water and improvised methods, as emergency responders were yet to arrive at the scene.

An eyewitness, Mrs Christiana Uti, said repeated calls to the fire service yielded no immediate response, with officials reportedly citing non-functional fire trucks.

It was gathered that a fire truck from the University of Calabar eventually arrived, but only after significant damage had already been recorded.

Explaining the delayed response, the State Commanding Officer of the Federal Fire Service, Mrs Olumayowa Olomola, said their truck had recently been vandalised during an operation in Calabar, leaving it unserviceable.

She added that some fire officers were also injured in the incident and that efforts to secure repairs had yet to yield results.

Similarly, the Director of the State Fire Service, Mr Emmanuel Ajom, disclosed that the state’s fire trucks were undergoing maintenance, noting that the vehicles, procured about 14 years ago, required routine servicing.

The cause of the explosion remained unclear as of press time, with eyewitness accounts differing. While some residents speculated that a phone call near the station may have triggered the blast, a mechanic, Mr Sam Ekpenyong, suggested a possible electrical fault or expired equipment within the facility.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Akata, said officers had been deployed to the scene to maintain order, while the Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, also visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that emotional scenes were witnessed as distraught parents searched for their children in the aftermath of the explosion, underscoring the scale of panic and confusion that gripped the community.